EnChroma | Cowichan Eyecare

See the World in Colour

Our team at Cowichan Eyecare strives to help everyone experience the world in full colour. If you or someone you love has colour vision deficiency (CVD), EnChroma lenses may offer a life-changing difference.

While there is no cure for colour blindness, EnChroma’s lens technology can enhance colour perception by filtering specific wavelengths of light. The result is richer, more vivid colour contrast that helps make everyday tasks easier and the world more vibrant.

Whether you’re discovering colours for the first time or looking to improve visual clarity, our team is here to guide you. Contact us to schedule your appointment today to find out if EnChroma lenses are right for you.

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What Is Colour Vision Deficiency?

Colour vision deficiency (CVD), often referred to as colour blindness, affects how the eyes perceive colour. It happens when the cone cells in the retina don’t work properly or are missing entirely. These cones are responsible for detecting red, green, and blue light.

CVD is more common than many people realize, affecting about 1 in 10 men and a smaller percentage of women. The severity and type of CVD can vary widely depending on which cones are affected.

Types of Colour Vision Deficiency

There are several varieties of CVD, including:

This is extremely rare and results in the inability to see any colour at all.

Red-Green Deficiency
- Deuteranomaly: Green appears more red
- Protanomaly: Red appears dull or more green
- Protanopia/Deuteranopia: Red and green appear nearly the same
Blue-Yellow Deficiency
- Tritanomaly: Difficulty distinguishing between blue and green, yellow and red
- Tritanopia: Blue and green, purple and red, and yellow and pink can appear similar
Monochromacy (Complete Colour Blindness)
- This is extremely rare and results in the inability to see any colour at all.

How We See Colour

Colour vision is controlled by cone cells in the retina, which detect different wavelengths of light:

S-cones detect short wavelengths (blue light)
M-cones detect medium wavelengths (green light)
L-cones detect long wavelengths (red light)

In people with normal colour vision, all 3 types of cones work together to interpret a full spectrum of colour. With CVD, one or more types of cones do not function properly, leading to difficulty distinguishing certain colours.

To be technical, actual colour blindness, the total inability to identify any type of colour, is called monochromacy. This type of colour vision deficiency is extremely rare in comparison to other types.

Dichromacy occurs when people only have 2 types of functioning cones. Because one cone type does not function, the eyes cannot see any colours in that particular area of the light spectrum, making them more difficult to distinguish than others.

Anomalous trichromacy is characterized by all types of cones functioning, but one type of cone is functioning improperly. This is the most common type of CVD and results in reduced sensitivity to one type of light, which causes some colours to be less distinguishable from others.

What Causes Colour Blindness?

A variety of factors can cause CVD:

Genetics: Most commonly inherited and passed from mother to son
Injury or trauma: Especially involving the eyes or brain
Certain health conditions: Including glaucoma, leukemia, and Alzheimer’s disease
Medications: Some antibiotics and barbiturates have been linked to CVD
Aging: Colour perception may decline naturally over time
Environmental exposure: Chemicals such as carbon monoxide can contribute to CVD

How EnChroma Lenses Work

EnChroma lenses use modern light-filtering technology to increase contrast between colours. This allows the brain to better distinguish hues that would otherwise appear muted or similar.

These lenses do not “fix” colour blindness, but they can improve the way colours are perceived, helping wearers see more vibrancy in their everyday environments. There are different EnChroma lens options based on the type and severity of CVD, and our team can help determine which one is right for you.

Why Colour Vision Matters

Living with colour blindness can affect more than just how you see. It can impact school, work, and daily life in ways that often go unnoticed. Many systems rely on colour, like traffic signals, warning signs, or school grading, making navigation more difficult for people with CVD.

Curious if EnChroma lenses are right for you? You can take a colour vision test on the EnChroma website to get an initial idea. However, for the most accurate diagnosis and personalized care, we recommend booking an eye exam with our optometrists.

Visit one of our locations in Langford, Duncan, Chemainus, Cobble Hill, or Lake Cowichan to learn more about how EnChroma can make a difference in your life.

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